Jane Katz

Profile navigation

Education

Ed.D Teachers College, Columbia University

MEd. Teachers College, Columbia University

MA New York University

BS City College of New York (CUNY)

Bio

Dr. Jane Katz was awarded the Federation Internationale de Natation Amateur (FINA) Certificate of Merit to honor her "dedication and contribution to the development" of the sport of Swimming, awarded in Sydney, Australia, during the XXVII Olympiad in 2000.

Dr. Jane Katz has taught thousands of students about the benefits of water fitness at the City University of New York since 1964. She is a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in the Department of Health and Physical Education teaching fitness and swimming to New York City's police and firefighters.

Dr. Katz has been recognized for her work as an educator, aquatics innovator and author. Among many prestigious honors for her work is the Townsend Harris Academic Medal from her alma mater, CCNY, an award bestowed to fellow alumnus Secretary of State Colin Powell.

As a member of the 1964 U.S. Synchronized Swimming Performance Team in Tokyo, Dr. Katz helped pioneer the acceptance of Synchronized Swimming as an Olympic event. Her achievements as a Masters competitive, long-distance, synchronized and fin swimmer have earned her All-American and World Masters championships.

Dr. Katz earned her bachelor's degree in physical education at the City College of New York, a Masters in Education Administration and Organization from New York University and both a Master's degree in Therapeutic Recreation for Aging and her Doctorate of Education degree in Gerontology from Columbia University.

Jane Katz's aquatics publications include Swimming for Total Fitness, as well as other books, videos, and numerous articles, such as the Encyclopedia Britannica's "Take the Plunge: Swimming for Health," and "Aquatic Exercise." Her recent publication is Your Water Workout (Random House/Broadway Books).

Jane Katz is on the Advisory Board of Aquatics International magazine, has been a member of USA Swimming's Education and Waterworks Committees and has been a consultant to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports since 1981. Since 2002, Dr. Katz has been an advisory member of the Board of Directors of the International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF). She is also a member of the US Masters Swimming Sports Medicine Committee.

Dr. Katz received the Outstanding Teacher Award for the academic year 1999-2000 at John Jay College of Criminal Justice of CUNY, and was the 2000 honoree of the New York City PSAL's National Girls and Women in Sports Day. In April 2001, the Dr. Jane Katz Natatorium was dedicated at the Children's Better Health Institute in Indianapolis, Indiana.

In 2004, for the second time, she was voted Women's Swimming Coach of the Year of the City University of New York Division III Athletic Conference. In 2005, she was selected by Aquatics International Magazine as one of the 25 most powerful people in the world of aquatics. Dr. Katz earned US Masters Swimming All American Status from 2004 and won the 2005 USMS Long Distance One Mile Swim Championship. In addition, she was recently inducted into the Metropolitan Swimming Hall of Fame for her lifetime contributions in aquatics.

In August of 2009, she competed in the National Senior Games at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA, also winning several swimming events. In August of 2010, she won four championships in the US Masters Nationals in San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 2011, she was Masters Team Captain for the European Maccabiah Games in Vienna, Austria, also winning a dozen medals.

In 2007, Dr. Katz helped create the Kids Aquatic Re-Entry (KARE) Program, in cooperation with the New York City Dept. of Juvenile Justice to help troubled youth learn life’s lessons poolside. In 2008, she was awarded the New York Post Liberty Medal as Educator of the Year for the Program. This was highlighted in the August 1, 2010 edition of TheNew York Times, “Making the Water a Comfort Zone.”

In 2010, Dr. Katz was the recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Award from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. In March 2011, Dr. Katz was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame and Museum. In June of 2011, she was also honored at the United Nations by the International Marathon Hall of Fame and given the Certificate of Merit Award. In September of 2011 United States Aquatics Sports Convention in Jacksonville, FL, Dr. Katz received the U.S. Masters Swimming 2011 Fitness Award for continued support of fitness through swimming. In addition she also received the USMS June Krauser Communications Award through publications including books, DVDs, articles, appearances and volunteerism. In May 2012, Dr. Katz received the CCNY Education Alumni Award as Distinguished Educator of the Year from the Alumni Board of Directors. In September 2012, she was inducted into the John Jay College Athletics Hall of Fame.